जडाजडदृशोर्मध्ये दोलायितदुराशयः । अविवेकी विमूढात्मा मोहमेव प्रयच्छति ॥ ३ ॥
jaḍājaḍadṛśōrmadhyē dōlāyitadurāśayaḥ | avivēkī vimūḍhātmā mōhamēva prayacchati || 3 ||
Translation
Swinging between the views that it is inert and that it is conscious, of evil intent, without discrimination, its self deluded, it gives only delusion.
Word by word
- jaḍa
- that it is inert
- ajaḍa
- and that it is conscious
- dṛśōr
- (dṛśoḥ) the views
- madhyē
- between
- dōlāyita
- swinging
- dur
- of evil
- āśayaḥ
- intent
- avivēkī
- without discrimination
- vimūḍha
- deluded
- ātmā
- its self
- mōham
- delusion
- ēva
- only
- prayacchati
- it gives
Meaning
Because the body is neither plainly inert nor plainly conscious, the mind swings (dolāyita) between the two views and settles on neither. The commentary: when the doubt is not resolved, this body, joined to a corrupt mind and without discrimination, produces only delusion. It also notes another reading, prapaśyati, "sees": the ignorant, taking the body as the Self, see only the world, never the aim of life. The reader may notice how much of their thinking about themselves swings between "I am this body" and "I am something more", without ever deciding.